Lack of respect for voters is insulting

Sir, With regard to the letter written by Donald J Morrison ( The an Ti es, March 23), could I be so bold as to make a few points?

The first and most obvious is his lack of respect for fellow voters who in 2015 gave the SNP the largest percentage of votes of any government in northern Europe and the UK for many years. In addition, it is worth pointing out to him that 56 of the 59 MPs elected were SNP.

Mr Morrison also makes a few assertions about the First Minister, some of a sexist nature. He says: ‘She can’t accept reality. Like a wee girl having uncontrolled tantrums.’ In a past life I was a teacher and I can attest to seeing as many boys having tantrums as girls.

Mr Morrison also thinks she is stubborn and bitter and needs to ‘lie down in a darkened room’. I think Mr Morrison should heed his own advice as there seems a fair amount of bitterness in his letter.

In fact, Mr Morrison’s rant has little basis in fact and is a mix of assertion, assumption and bilious imagination. Take, for example, the use of such terms as ‘independence rifle’ and ‘Brexit bullets’ to be fired at those south of Hadrian’s wall. Insulting stuff, particularly when he assumes those who have a different opinion to him are not sane. Presumably, if we are not sane then we must be insane, which is an interesting way to get our attention.

To add insult to injury, he resorts to the ‘too wee, too poor’ argument, having assumed we are also too stupid to form a valid opinion based on many factors, none of which relates to animosity against our neighbours and friends south of the border.

In terms of the SNP government and its period in office, we have an improved NHS performing significantly better than the rest of the UK despite increasing pressures, more young people passing exams and going on to higher education, violent crime at an all-time low, students not paying tuition fees, free prescriptions and bus passes.

Personalising the debate rather than making a measured and respectful argument smacks of desperation and I suspect we will see more of it over the next couple of years - but I hope not. aid on ae ty ayie.